Kansas basketball: Rock Chalk Thanksgiving Plate, Jayhawks Edition

With the countdown on to the best meal of the year it is time to break down this Kansas basketball roster and how they all fit on the plate.  Wishing all of Jayhawk Nation a Happy Thanksgiving!

Rock Chalk Thanksgiving Plate: Kansas Basketball Edition

Hunter Dickinson: Turkey

Make no question about this roster, Hunter Dickinson is the main course. Through our first five games, he has led us in scoring at 21.2 points per game and rebounding at 12.7 per game. Our offense, like Thanksgiving, runs through him. It is called Turkey Day for a reason. Now, as much star power as it offers, it can make you fatigued and he can move slowly on the defensive end and provide a Marquette-like Turkey Fart to clear the room. Overall, bask in its glory and take the dominant with the occasional bubble.

Kevin McCullar: Dressing

While Turkey may get all the headlines, the dressing makes the meal. It may take several days to make, but like Kev’s super senior year, it is worth the wait! He has been dominant all year in all aspects of his game, which is evident by his two triple-doubles in five games. He has averaged 18.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals while playing elite defense. We are lucky he decided to come back for another year, like the Dressing, which I will always go back for seconds for.

Johnny Furphy: Sweet Potato Casserole

Don’t sleep on the sweet potato casserole. Easily my second favorite side dish. Everything you need with that sweet flavor. Have it with the meal or for dessert. Johnny has shown he can start or come off the bench. The potential is real with Johnny. He has shown in spurts he can provide the Jayhawks with what we need for a side dish. He can shoot, he can rebound, he can pass, and he is a capable defender. He has averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds a game so far while averaging 14.8 minutes a game. As he gets more minutes, his star power will grow.

KJ Adams: Green Bean Casserole

KJ slides into that third favorite side role. Just a consistent, flavorful side piece that comes with that electric kick of the fried onions on top and highlight reel dunks. KJ is a must-have on your plate. He works hard, flies around and makes plays, understands his skill set, and plays to it. KJ has averaged 11.0 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

Dajuan Harris: Gravy

Dajuan is my toughest dish to place. He has a place at the table, but his value is always in the eye of the beholder as does his value on the plate. The sides hit on their own. But what makes Big Turkey Hunt go is the gravy that goes on top. Dajuan is that guy who makes his life easier, driving and dishing for easy buckets. Big Hunt and Dajuan are a match made in heaven. While you are not going to eat gravy by itself, like Dajuan is typically not going to shoot you into games, he is a perfect complement to Big Hunt and the rest of the sides. Juan has averaged 6.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.5 turnovers.

Elmarko Jackson: Mashed Potatoes

Elmarko, like mashed potatoes, is a starter on your plate. A classic solid value. You know what you are going to get. This is what we hope Elmarko can grow into as the year progresses. He has tried to fit in mostly as opposed to attacking the basket, which he can. But he has that solid potato presence to him that should keep him a starter most if not the entire year. Elmarko has averaged 5.8 points per game, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

Jamari McDowell: Rolls

Jamari knows his role on this team. He comes in, plays solid defense, moves the ball on offense, goes after rebounds, and will knock down a shot when open. Rolls are a classic. They aren’t a headliner, but you have to have one or two as you dip and enjoy all the other sides and headliners. Jamari’s value has continued to rise in the last couple of games, and I think his minutes will to as the year continues. Jamari has averaged 3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and one assist while averaging 13 minutes per game.

Nicolas Timberlake: Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

While it is not my favorite dessert, many people wait for their pumpkin pie to finish off their meal. Like those people, we Jayhawk fans are waiting for Nick to start knocking down open 3-pointers and play to his career 3-point percentage numbers. While we may not need pumpkin pie to make the meal when it hits, it can finish it with a bang. If he can start knocking down shots, he will be an added bonus and help push us over the top in multiple games. Timberlake has averaged 4.0 points per game, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 13.2 minutes per game of action.

Parker Braun: Cranberry Fluff

Parker is the fluff of the team. When he plays well, it’s a nice bonus for us but not expected. His role is to come in and give a few solid minutes to let Dickinson rest. The fluff has great taste but only gets a small helping to save room for the other heavy hitter sides. Parker has averaged 4.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 12 minutes per game so far this season.

As Always Rock Chalk and Let’s Go!